Bergen Warf A Bucket List Item for sure, the truth is I’d never visited Norway. Norway equals Fjords, Fjords means a boat, so we sprung for the famous Hurtigruten Cruise experience. This was a 14-day, 32-port marathon that received rave reviews. Norway and Hurtigruten are not known for being cheap; however, as luck would have... Continue Reading →
Nazare, Portugal…..Home of the Giants
Naraze Portugal March in Portugal is one of the best times to visit. “Off” or “Shoulder” season, the truth is, the place is not overrun by tourists, and you get to enjoy some of the real Portugal. Open tables at the local restaurants, great prices, and always find a seat at the bar. March is... Continue Reading →
Silver Springs State Park …Perhaps Florida’s Finest
The State of Florida does a fantastic job managing and maintaining its state parks. I’ve camped at several, and compared to similar locations throughout the US, they consistently provide an outstanding experience, and value, and have become a credit to Florida. Silver Springs State Park is my first choice if you want to see... Continue Reading →
Cruising the Caribbean… A week with “The Newly Weds, the Over Fed, and Nearly Dead”
Recently I took my son Frank on an 8-day Caribbean cruise with stops in the Dominican Republic, Virgin Islands, and Bahamas. While I’m not faulting our host, Norwegian Cruise Lines, the truth is regardless of the level of service, you're not going to have a pleasant experience sharing a packed ship with over 4,000 other... Continue Reading →
Dollywood…Gatlinburg and the Tennessee Smokies
Looking for an excuse to break in the new Road Glide, Katia and I headed north on the Harley to enjoy some crisp October weather in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The leaves were turning, and the Florida heat remained insufferable. I’d ridden through Gatlinburg, Tennessee the year before and remembered wanting to spend... Continue Reading →
2024 Harley Davidson Road Glide – First Impression, “Holy Shit”
While I loved my Road King, after 5 years and 40,000 miles, it was getting a little long in the tooth. She had the color, and lines, and the K&N breather combined with the S&S Grand Nationals gave her plenty of “giddy-up.” She’d safely taken me over most of the continent without a real problem.... Continue Reading →
My 5 Best Motorcycle Rides in Atlantic Canada-Newfoundland
(Photo Avove: Cape Spear, Newfoundland)...... It’s summer, which means another opportunity to knock off an epic road trip on the Harley. As a follow-up from last summer's two-wheeled hiatus to the great American northwest, it seemed only fitting to push the envelope a little farther this year and head for North America’s easternmost point,... Continue Reading →
Prague, Czech Republic
Another “One and Done” ... ...Prague Old Town Square... Of course, Prague is a legitimate vacation destination. This historical Central European cultural hub, with all its intact splendors of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is an easy and hospitable city to visit. It was home to the Habsburgs, Sigmund Freud, Mozart, and the original Budweiser Beer. However, behind... Continue Reading →
Poland
...The Weight of the Past ... ...Krakow Central Square.... Poland, or “Polska” as locally known, is the highlight of our 2024 European Campaign. While rich in culture and tradition, Poland’s lengthy history of war and occupation weighed on my travel experience. My Poland was 3 weeks spent in Kraków and Wroclaw, two southern cities that played... Continue Reading →
Albania, Montenegro, and Croatia 2024
(Photo above: Albanian Flag)..... It won't be long before most of these countries in the western Balkans are as overrun by tourists as Western Europe. While certainly not as polished as the West, crowds are smaller, the food is better, and the locals still get excited meeting Americans. Europe started in this part of the... Continue Reading →